Eikasia Bonus Points

Everyone (meaning all of you readers) work towards a grand total of 100 points.  This goal does not include number of Facebook fans (until further notice) since bonus updates every 10 new fans seems to be working fine.  So here’s how it’ll go:

1. Every unique reader who comments on a chapter earns 2 points.*
2. Every unique reader who points out a new SPAG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) mistake or continuity error earns 5 points.
3. Every unique reader who links to Eikasia earns 3 points. You must contact me with the page where the link is located–or if you’re linking on Twitter, just reply with @cajeck and/or the #Eikasia hashtag and be sure to mention that you actually read the story (as now and again I’ll have a kind non-reader give me a shout out)
4. Speaking of Twitter, every RT of #Eikasia OR #weblit tagged posts earns 1 point.
5. Every unique review on Web Fiction Guide, Muse’s Success, or any other review site for that matter (at a minimum of at least 300 words, unless the site prevents that) earns 15 points.  Be sure to contact me and link to the review so that I know.**
6. Every time someone donates 5 USD or more through paypal, they earn 8 points.  Donations of 20 USD or more automatically get a special chapter from me, your choice of subject.  You can choose to share this with others, or keep it for yourself.  You may instead request special artwork from me, depicting a scene from the story, or something nutty you thought up (i.e. Nyx cosplaying as Rukia from Bleach, or Elmiryn battling Wolverine from the X-men.)***
7. Submit fan art by either emailing it to me or submitting artwork to the “fan art” album on Eikasia’s Facebook page. It gets a bit subjective here, but I think everyone can understand the reasoning behind how points are given after that: For “sketchy” simple artwork (i.e. no/minimalistic background, low detail, low contrast, no color, etc.–here’s an example) you earn 2 points. For works that look like you spent time on it (i.e. high detail, full background, good contrast, color, shading, etc.–here’s an example) you earn 8 points. If I use the work for advertising (i.e. banners, buttons, youtube, etc.) then you earn 15 points!****
8. Every new registered user on Eikasia (through the WordPress dashboard) earns 5 points.
9. Every vote on a public poll (meaning it isn’t exclusive to forum users or Facebook users) earns 1 point.

*Just to clarify, you get 2 points for every chapter you comment on–but you don’t get more points for commenting on a chapter more than once. Comments on Ninth Suture do not count, as this is neutral ground so to speak.

**The 300 word minimum is necessary, as the point of a review is to give a potential reader a well-articulated idea of what the story is about, and whether they would be interested in it.  These can’t be written as if they were directed at me–if you wish to critique, feel free to message me or leave a comment on a chapter.  These reviews should be geared towards readers. Any other rules set by the review site in question should also be followed.

***Monetary donations, though very much appreciated, do not earn as much as reviews because they do not have the potential to attract new readers.  However, every time the points are reset, you can donate to earn points again.  As for large donations ($20+), the minimum amount of words I’ll write you are 15,000 (no joke!)–and you can only expect this from me once a month per person. If I have multiple large donators in a month, I may have to spread your requests apart to keep sane.  My gratitude would be endless, but in consideration of other readers and my own personal obligations (work, school, family etc.) I can only do so much at once.  Regarding the option of special artwork from me, please note that I cannot send original work through the mail, all work would be sent digitally via email.  I guarantee not to send you a scribble, but you should be specific on whether you want/care if it’s in color or not.  Also, some ground rules:  I will not do nudity or anything outright sexual (subtext is fine); I’m not an art major and I don’t have all the time in the world, so I can’t really handle doing mechs, highly detailed outfits, or big crazy backgrounds–remember, you’re getting this for 20$, not 500$!;  I’m not a sadist, so let’s not put in weird requests for Elmiryn fucking someone with a knife, m’kay?;  I will not do anything even remotely racist, religious, or politically motivated;  lastly, you just donated to Eikasia–so therefor, the artwork you will receive shall be in some way relevant to Eikasia! Special work for large donations have a six month period. That doesn’t mean I’ll take all six months, but hey, I have a life too!

****I will always ask for permission to do this first. While the logic may stand that the art is based off of my work, I think it’d also be polite and justified to consider the feelings of the artist in question. If you think I might consider your work for advertisement use, simply let me know if you’d be okay with it or not. I can also attribute the work to you, and/or link to your website so that curious birdies can see more of your art.

If you think the end goal is too high, keep in mind that the 100 points is a common pool also contributed to by your fellow readers.  Also, please remember that these bonus updates are extra work that I’m willing to take on to show my gratitude.  In the instance that the points go over, they will roll over to the next update.

Thanks guys!

Doorways.

“Doorways are passages to new realms.  I have opened many doors in my life, and shut many behind me…but this time, I have ripped the door from its hinges, leaving an opening without end.  I would have others follow me.  I would have you follow me.”

So Chapter 10 is now finished, its ending signaling a change in the overall feel of Eikasia.  Nothing drastic, but still important.  I love introducing new characters, and as some may have noticed in the site’s Story Navigation under “Character POVs”, these newcomers are especially important.  Whereas other characters may still be of particular importance to the story, returning now and again to take part in the adventure, and even to offer a brief and very occasional look at the world through their eyes–the ones to watch for are the ones listed under POVs by name.

It’s the only hint I’ll give as to their relationship in the story.  These recently introduced characters, I am not afraid to say, will be around for a while.  Why?  How?  Only the course of their adventure will tell.  I may occasionally shift views to auxilliary characters or other frequent cast members, but not nearly as much.  When that happens, they’ll be filed under “Other” beneath POVs.  I prefer stories with multiple viewpoints, and while I admit–large casts and convolution has been one of my bigger problems in writing–I mean to avoid head-hopping.  Hopefully some of you, along with my great and wonderful editor, will keep me from going overboard.

In a way, I have reached a point of no return, but still, the door is open.  What new wonders will stumble in, now that Eikasia has taken this route?

Speaking of open doorways, I’ve come up with some other ways for all of you to earn bonus updates!  Currently, Facebook is only 3 fans away from reaching another update.  But not everyone likes Facebook, and there’s only so many friends and family for you all to badger.  So in light of this, I decided it was time to show some appreciation for the other things you folks do.  Commenting on chapters, pointing out typos, linking to Eikasia, leaving reviews, donating money… Those are some of the major things that help me out, that encourage me, that encourage others to give the story a chance.

Starting today, all of you will be working towards a total of 100 points.  This goal does not include number of Facebook fans (atleast for this first go around) since bonus updates every 10 new fans seems to be working fine, and you guys are currently only 3 away from another update anyway.  So here’s how it’ll go:

1. Every unique reader who comments on a chapter earns 2 points.*
2. Every unique reader who points out a new SPAG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) mistake or continuity error earns 5 points.
3. Every unique reader who links to Eikasia earns 3 points. You must contact me with the page where the link is located–or if you’re linking on Twitter, just reply with @cajeck and/or the #Eikasia hashtag and be sure to mention that you actually read the story (as now and again I’ll have a kind non-reader give me a shout out)
4. Speaking of Twitter, every RT of #Eikasia OR #weblit tagged posts earns 1 point.
5. Every unique review on Web Fiction Guide, Muse’s Success, or any other review site for that matter (at a minimum of atleast 300 words, unless the site prevents that) earns 15 points.  Be sure to contact me and link to the review so that I know.**
6. Every time someone donates 5 USD or more through paypal, they earn 8 points.  Donations of 20 USD or more automatically get a special chapter from me, your choice of subject.  You can choose to share this with others, or keep it for yourself.***

*Just to clarify, you get 2 points for every chapter you comment on–but you don’t get more points for commenting on a chapter more than once.

**The 300 word minimum is necessary, as the point of a review is to give a potential reader a well-articulated idea of what the story is about, and whether they would be interested in it.  These can’t be written as if they were directed at me–if you wish to critique, feel free to message me or leave a comment on a chapter.  These reviews should be geared towards readers.

***Monetary donations, though very much appreciated, do not earn as much as reviews because they do not have the potential to attract new readers.  However, every time the points are reset, you can donate to earn points again.  As for large donations ($20+), the minimum amount of words still applies–2000–and you can only expect this from me once a month per person.  If I have multiple large donators in a month, I may have to spread your requests apart to keep sane.  My gratitude would be endless, but in consideration of other readers and my own personal obligations (work, school, family etc.) I can only do so much at once.

If you think the end goal is too high, keep in mind that the 100 points is a common pool also contributed to by your fellow readers.  Also, please remember that these bonus updates are extra work that I’m willing to take on to show my gratitude.  In the instance that the points go over, they will roll over to the next update.  To get you guys started, I’ll include all comments and corrections posted since Part 2 began. That leaves you all with 43/100!

If I can find a nice visual progress bar, I’ll use that.  For now, I’ll just post the point total in text on both sites–to be updated manually by me as time goes on.  These conditions may be tweaked in the future, as this is the first time I’ve tried this.  In the meantime, chat on Facebook with other readers, or message me with your ideas of what you’d like to see for the next bonus update.  If not, I’ll just put up my own list when the time comes.

…The doorway is open you guys.  You gonna step through?

Link to Me!

It’s nice helping other people out!

Save it to your computers please.  Sorry I didn’t add dimensions.

If you feel like it, I’d love donated banners or buttons.

Link to http://eighthcirclestudios.com/eikasia

Thank you!